The Sunday News
Bhekumuzi Ncube, Sunday Life Reporter
THE past weeks have been headlined by the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence which has been a subject of intense debate among critics over the years.
The annual campaign is one form of mouthpiece that women use to demonstrate against aspects of gender stratification, sexism, sexual harassment and patriarchy. Their aim is to raise awareness and show the world that they are equal to men and have innovative plans that can change the world for the better.
Musicians have often showcased their support on women’s plight by releasing songs with critical messages of love, care and respect. Among them is the late Sungura king, Tongai Moyo who passed away six years ago after a long battle with cancer.
His music lives on with his top hits Zakeo, Chechete, Tenda and Rugare still receiving fair airplay on radios and is still played in night clubs and bottle stores.
In line with the 16 Days of Activism, Moyo’s evergreen hit Nemumvura Mese is one song which ignites love among couples and urges them to respect each other in bad and good times without considering the biased social constraints which often favour men.
The majority of people understand the song as a love song. However, the song is not merely a love hit, but carries a fundamental message of gender equality. Gender equality fights have often left children destitute with their parents divorced or separated. Usually, women are the victims of such abuse as men assume leadership roles in African set-ups.
The multi-award winning Dhewa’s foot-stopping hit has lyrics which talks about a couple helping each other in different social roles makes it clear that women are strong and capable of taking over jobs which have often been assumed to be men’s work.
Dhewa sings “Mazuva akaoma varume, Kana Unewako naye, nemumvura mese naye, Kumafaro naye, Konogocha gocha naye, nemumvura mese, Kana konobikwa naye, kana kunorima naye, nemumvura mese naye, Kunokorokodza naye, nemumvura mese, naye.”
The most common Shona lyrics of Dhewa’s songs means that men and women should always be side by side in helping each other in different social roles.
From the lyrics, the Samanyemba hit-maker mentions the most common social roles which are commonly used to distinguish between men and women namely cooking, mining and farming.
Cooking has always been viewed as a women’s job which men are not obliged to do. Patriarchal beliefs state that every wife has the right to prepare food for her husband as it is one of her prime duties.
The same with mining which Dhewa mentions in the song. Mining is often viewed as a difficult and dangerous job only men can do rather than women who are thought to be vulnerable and weak.
However, in the song, the sungura muso sets aside issues of gender stratification and sexism and shows men and women that for them to thrive they should be pillars of each other in everything.
The late music icon was one artiste who was popularly known for his distinguished clothing that drove women crazy during that era. His videos were not a miss as everyone would want to view the fashionista’s new designs.
Nemumvura Mese video is not an exception; Dhewa rocks the stage with an all-white fashion design which completely blew away fans when it was released back then.
However, the focus for this article are the couples which are featured in the video. The couples are portrayed farming, mining, cooking and having a braai together, making it clear that Moyo’s objective was to show everyone that love and respect were the key to helping both women and men produce greater things.
The hit might be old, but its message is relevant to the modern world with its clear message that women are strong and intelligent to be involved in projects which have often been entitled to men. -@NcubeBhekumuzi
